Fish is second only to rice as food in the Philippines. This handbook, intended for both home and commercial processors of Philippine fishes, covers the handling of fresh fish, the various methods of preserving fish - freezing, salting, drying, smoking, canning, and miscellaneous methods such as pickling - and the spoilage of fish and fish products. It gives a step-by-step description of Philippine fish-preserving methods with suggestions on improving them, and of methods used in other parts of the world which have been adapted for Philippine use by the Philippine Fishery Program of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Tables of useful data for fish processors and of drawings of common species of Philippine fish are included.

As with the first edition this book includes chapters on established fish processes and new processes and allied issues. The first five chapters cover fish biochemistry affecting processing, curing, surimi and fish mince, chilling and freezing and canning. These established processes can still show innovations and improved theory although their mature status precludes major leaps in knowledge and technology. The four chapters concerned with new areas relevant to fish processing are directed at the increasing globalisation of the fish processing industry and the demands, from legislation and the consumer, for better quality, safer products. One chapter reviews the methods available to identify fish species in raw and processed products. The increased demand for fish products and the reduced catch of commercially-important species has lead to adulteration or substitu tion of these species with cheaper species. The ability to detect these practices has been based on some elegant analytical techniques in electrophoresis.

Handbook on Fish Processing and Preservation will be helpful to enlighten students, industrialists and entrepreneurs on different aspects of fish handling, processing, preservation, storage and marketing. The book covers fourteen Chapters such as 1. Physical Characteristics of Fish, 2. Chemical Characteristics of Fish, 3. Biological Characteristics of Fish, 4. Post Mortem Changes in Fish and Safety Hazards, 5. Microbiology of Fish and Fish Products, 6. Wet Fish Handling and Preparation, 7. Chilling and Chill Store, 8. Freezing and Cold Storage, 9. Canning of Fish, 10. Fish Paste Products, 11. Fish Curing, 12. Fish Products, 13. Fish By-Products and 14. Food Additives in Fish Processing. This will be helpful for students in fisheries discipline, industrialists and also entrepreneurs involved in fish processing and preservation. Note: T&F does not sell or distribute the hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.